Back to the wall -ultra rack

ABSTRACT

a modular wall mounted shelf-like rack holding system with a mounting frame which can be installed in a vertical or horizontal orientation. Cross cut-out mounting points allow hanger brackets to be attached and interlocked with the mounting frame for vertical support of heavy cans, whether the mounting frame is installed vertically or horizontally, allowing the end user to choose to install the ultra rack in any useable horizontal or vertical space for storage of gallon paint cans or the like. Cans are snapped into arms which arc out from either side of the hanger bracket and then slid down onto a raised support plate which fits into the recess in the bottom of the can to securely retain it, allowing for storage of paint cans or other similar containers in narrow areas of unused wall space such as in a garage, a basement, or in a work truck or van.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a modular system of storage which utilizes a mountable frame containing a single row of cross cut-outs into which hangman protrusions from specialized hanger brackets may be inserted and secured by sliding into the cut-out and then being pulled down to secure into place. The cross cut-outs are designed to accommodate the hanger bracket to hang vertically whether the mounting frame is installed in the vertical or horizontal orientation. The hanger bracket is designed with retention arms to secure a can which then sits on a raised support plate at the bottom of the hanger bracket and which fits into the recess formed by the bottom lip of the can, allowing for storage of gallon paint cans or other similar containers in narrow areas of unused wall space such as in a garage, a basement, or in a work truck or van.

Known similar systems of storage include adjustable shelving units that allow vertical movement of shelves, in fashions that provide independent support or no support for detachable shelving units. These systems of storage suffer from drawbacks that differentiate the present invention in that they do not allow for multiple orientations of single row storage and occupy amounts of space that are not conducive to confined areas.

Further known similar inventions include peg board storage, paint can holders that may be installed on ladders, fire extinguisher holders, and can holding units that simply sheath cans within their structures. These systems suffer from drawbacks that differentiate the present invention in that they provide no method of modular single row stacking and storage, nor a method of securing the cans to a unit which may be solidly installed onto a wall unit.

The following patents are considered relevant to the disclosure:

U.S. Pat. No. 8,011,520 B2 issued Sep. 6, 2011 to Spiers et al., is a “STORAGE RACK” which makes use of flexible clamping arms to secure objects, but does not provide for a means of orienting the wall mount both vertically and horizontally. This invention does not provide a supporting surface below the clamping arms upon which an item such as a paint can be placed.

U.S. Patent Application Publication 2004/0182802 A1 published Sep. 23, 2004 for Paul is a “RACK FOR JARS AND OTHER ITEMS” which makes use of flexible gripping arms located on a mount for retaining jars and other cylindrical items, but does not provide for a means of orienting the mount both vertically and horizontally. This invention does not provide a surface below the gripping arms upon which an item may be placed to secure it into position.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,220,557 B1 issued Apr. 24, 2001 to Ziaylek et al., is a “MOUNTING BRACKET MEANS FOR DETACHABLY SUPPORTING A GENERALLY CYLINDRICALLY-SHAPED MEMBER UPON A WALL SURFACE” which makes use of flexible clamping arms for mounting a cylindrical object, but does not provide for a means of mounting multiple cylindrical object either vertically or horizontally upon the wall. This invention does not provide for a surface below the clamping arms upon which a cylindrical object can be placed upon to secure it into position.

U.S. Pat. No. Des. 313,169 issued Dec. 25, 1990 to Scott et al., is a “LADDER RAIL ATTACHED PAINT BUCKET HOLDER” which provides for a bracket that may be secured to a ladder rail with a fastener which utilizes flexible clamping arms to retain a cylindrical object and a solid rectangular protrusion upon which the cylindrical object may sit, but does not provide for a means of mounting multiple cylindrical object either vertically or horizontally. Furthermore, the invention does not provide for an integrated, wall mounted system, for securing objects into place.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,749,112 issued Jun. 7, 1988 to Harper, is a “CARRIERS FOR BEVERAGE CONTAINERS” which provides for rigid arms that merely retain an object that slides, rather than snaps, into place. This invention provides for a raised edge at the base to capture the lip at the bottom of a drinking cup which may be placed upon it, but only supports a nominal amount of the surface area of the bottom of the drinking cup. This invention does not lock or secure an object into place as the object may be slid upwards from the mount.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,106,629 issued Aug. 15, 1978 to Doyle et al., is a “CAN DISPLAY HOLDER” provides for a peg board brackets for securing cans upon pegboard, but does not provide for an integrated, independent wall mounted system developed for heavier objects such as paint cans. This patent does not provide for a surface upon which containers may be placed and secured into position.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,921,948 issued Nov. 25, 1975 to Long is a “PEGBOARD CONTAINER HOLDER” which provides for spring loaded jaws contoured to retain jars and other containers which mount onto pegboard, but does not provide for an integrated, independent wall mounted system developed for heavier objects such as paint cans. This patent does not provide for a surface upon which containers may be placed and secured into position.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,190,454 issued Jun. 22, 1965 to S. C. Brooks, is a “DISPLAY STAND” which provides for rigid retaining arms along a vertical stand that hook into recesses located on the top and bottom of paint cans for retaining a series of paint cans vertically. This invention does not provide for a wall mount which can be used to align multiple paint cans both vertically or horizontally. This invention provides no surface upon which paint cans may be placed to fully secure them.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,224,644 issued Dec. 21, 1965 to W. J. Davis, is a “DISPENSER” which provides for a bracket that may be secured to a wall with a fastener such as a wood screw which utilizes flexible clamping arms to retain a cylindrical object along with a surface upon which an object may be placed to secure it into position. This invention does not provide for a wall mount which can be used to align multiple cylindrical objects both vertically or horizontally along the wall. This invention uses a recessed surface upon which objects are set into for bottom support rather than being set onto a raised support surface.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,289,701 issued Jul. 14, 1942 to H. R. Engel et al., is a “BOTTLE HOLDER” which provides for flexible clamping arms for mounting a cylindrical object. This invention does not provide for a wall mount which can be used to align multiple cylindrical objects both vertically or horizontally along the wall. This invention does not provide for a raised surface to fit into a recess on the bottom the cylindrical object to secure it into position.

None of the above listed patents provide for a modular system of storage which utilizes a mountable frame for single row storage of heavy cans with cross cut-out openings for attachment of a specialized hanger bracket which allows heavy cans to be secured vertically whether the mounting frame is in a vertical or horizontal orientation, and which hanger brackets make use of retention arms which allow cans to be snapped in securely and then slid down onto a raised support plate which fits into the recess created by the lip on the bottom of the can for a secure engagement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One of the primary objects of the present invention is the combination of a mounting frame for single row storage and a specialized hanger bracket that includes retention arms and a raised support plate that, as a modular system, accommodates ease of single row storage through the use of hangman protrusions on the specialized hanger brackets and cross cut-outs on the mounting frame that allow the hanger brackets to be secured whether the mounting frame is oriented vertically or horizontally, with no independent support structures, allowing the entire assembly to fit in confined areas.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a method of storage that utilizes specialized hanger brackets allowing an end-user to secure a can onto the hanger bracket, once it is secured to the mounting frame, by snapping the can into retention arms and sliding it down onto a raised support plate which fits into the recess on the bottom of a can, which may be sized for such items as paint cans.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide the end-user the ability to orient the direction of the mounting frame either vertically or horizontally while still allowing the hanger brackets to be secured thereto, by providing cross cut-outs along the mounting frame spaced apart such that the hangman protrusions from the hanger brackets may fit with the mounting frame installed in either orientation.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a modular system which requires no additional framing support or other methods of support separate and apart from a single, mountable frame and one hanger bracket per cross cut-out mounting point.

In accordance with the present invention, a complete modular storage system consists of a mounting frame for single row storage containing cross cut-outs along its length spaced apart and a specialized hanger bracket possessing a hangman protrusion with dimensions that allow it to fit into, and slide down onto, the cross cut-outs in the mounting frame. The cross cut-outs along the mounting frame allow the hangman protrusions on the specialized hanger brackets to orient and hang in a vertical orientation whether the mounting frame is mounted vertically or horizontally. The mounting frame contains fastener holes on each end, and ideally between each cross cut-out, which allow the mounting frame to be secured by screws or similar fasteners onto a wall stud or similar solid mounting surface.

Mounted upon the specialized hanger brackets are two additional features which may be fitted for cans of different sizes and shapes: Retention arms made of flexible material that allows an end-user to force-snap a can into place and a raised support plate which fits into the recess formed by the bottom rim of the can, which allows an end-user to slide a can down onto the support plate after the can is force-snapped into place in the retention arms.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The novelty of the modular system of storage summarized above becomes apparent to persons of ordinary skill in the art by reference to the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein reference characters are depicted to refer to similar parts and in which:

FIG. 1 is a front, perspective view of the mounting frame and three inserted flexible retention hanger brackets.

FIG. 2 is a rear, perspective view of the mounting frame and three inserted flexible retention hanger brackets.

FIGS. 3a, 3b & 3 c are front, side and top views of the mounting frame.

FIGS. 4a, 4b & 4 c are front, side and top views of a flexible retention hanger bracket.

FIGS. 5a & 5 b are perspective views of the mounting frame oriented in both a vertical and horizontal fashion, with three flexible retention hanger brackets sized for paint cans (with phantom paint cans installed on each bracket) secured to the mounting frame.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals are used throughout the various drawings to depict like or similar elements of the claimed back to the wall-ultra rack. For the purpose of presenting a brief and clear discussion of the invention, the preferred embodiment will be discussed primarily as used in the support and storage of gallon paint cans. This is for representative purposes only and should not be construed as limiting the adaptation and use of this device in the support and storage of other sized cans, pails or other such containers.

Referring in more particularity to the drawings, and specifically to FIGS. 1 & 2, the preferred embodiment of the back to the wall-ultra rack is a mounting frame 1 to be mounted to wall studs or a similar solid mounting surface, with fastener holes 2 through which wood screws or similar fasteners are passed for mounting to a wall, with cross cut-outs 3, more clearly seen in FIG. 3a , spaced apart an appropriated distance for the size of cans to be stored, and with a flexible retention hanger bracket 4 sized for paint cans, which can be more clearly seen in FIGS. 4a, 4b & 4 c.

The flexible retention hanger bracket 4 has a hangman protrusion 5 on the top end designed to fit through a cross cut-out, a pair of retention arms 6 which arc out from the sides between the top and bottom ends designed to allow a paint can to be pushed and snapped through between the arms, and a raised support plate 7 at the bottom end which is sized to fit within the recess formed by the bottom lip of the can.

hangman protrusion 5 on the flexible retention hanger bracket 4 may be inserted into one cross cut-out 3 and slid down to secure into place, and is sized for a compression-friction fit. Said engagement can be seen from the front and back views in FIGS. 1 & 2 respectively. This simple but unique form of engagement makes it unnecessary for the provision of a catch, lug, rod or other type of locking means for separate engagement, whether the mounting frame has been installed in a vertical or horizontal orientation. FIGS. 5a & 5 b depict a total of three flexible retention hanger brackets 4 installed into a vertical and horizontal mounting frame respectively, with phantom paint cans inserted into each.

Once the flexible retention hanger brackets 4 are secured into place on the mounting frame 1, the end user may force-snap a paint can into each set of retention arms 6 and then slide the can down onto the raised support plate 7 of the flexible retention hanger bracket 4.

In use the mounting frame 1 is secured to a solid mounting surface either horizontally or vertically. The flexible retention hanger brackets 4 are secured onto the mounting frame 1 and hang vertically while the mounting frame is in either orientation due to the cross cut-outs 3 which are dimensioned to allow use in either orientation. The end user need only insert the hangman protrusion 5 on each flexible retention hanger bracket 4 sized for paint cans into the cross cut-outs 3 and pull down to secure firmly into place. The end user may then force-snap a paint can into each set of retention arms 6 and then slide the can down onto the raised support plate 7 of the flexible retention hanger bracket 4.

The method and embodiment of the present invention shown and discussed are by way of illustration and not of limitation, and a wide variety of equivalent methods and embodiments may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as shown above. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A back to the wall-ultra rack, wall mounted shelf-like rack holding system, comprising: a mounting frame with at least two cross cut-out openings forming a single row of bracket attachment points, said mounting frame to be mounted to wall studs or a similar solid mounting surface in a horizontal or vertical orientation, with at least one fastener hole near each end of said mounting frame through which wood screws or similar fasteners are passed for mounting said frame to a wall, said cross cut-outs being spaced apart an appropriated distance for the size of cans to be stored thereon, at least two flexible retention hanger brackets with a vertical orientation sized for said cans to be stored thereon, said flexible retention hanger bracket having a hangman protrusion on its top end designed to fit through any of said cross cut-out openings which can then be pulled down and secured into place, said hangman protrusion is sized for a compression friction fit over the edge of said cross cut-out opening, a pair of retention arms which arc out from the sides between the top and bottom ends of said retention hanger bracket in a semi circular manner designed to allow a container to be pushed and snapped through between said arms and be thereby retained, and a raised support plate in a horizontal orientation at the bottom end of said retention support hanger to support said container.
 2. The back to the wall-ultra rack, wall mounted shelf-like rack holding system according to claim 1, wherein said mounting frame is made of any wood, plastic, fiberglass, metal, or other rigid material.
 3. The back to the wall-ultra rack, wall mounted shelf-like rack holding system according to claim 1, wherein said raised support plate at the bottom end of said hanger bracket is sized to fit within the recess formed by the bottom lip of a can.
 4. The back to the wall-ultra rack, wall mounted shelf-like rack holding system according to claim 1, wherein said hanger bracket is sized for 1 gallon paint cans.
 5. The back to the wall-ultra rack, wall mounted shelf-like rack holding system according to claim 1, wherein said mounting frame is injection molded.
 6. The back to the wall-ultra rack, wall mounted shelf-like rack holding system according to claim 1, wherein said mounting frame and hanger brackets are 3D printed. 